Alphonse Desjardins
Who was Alphonse Desjardins?
Former mayor of Montreal, Quebec (1841-1912)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Alphonse Desjardins (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Alphonse Desjardins, born on May 6, 1841, in Terrebonne, Canada East, was a well-rounded public figure in late 19th-century Quebec. He trained as a lawyer, but also worked as a journalist and businessman. Throughout his long career, he was involved in finance, municipal politics, and federal governance. He married Virginie Paré in 1864 and, after her death, married Hortense Barsalou in 1880. His personal life matched the shifts and goals of his public career.
Desjardins joined federal politics as the Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, holding the position for eighteen years. He built a strong reputation and eventually served as a cabinet minister. Notably, he was the Minister of Militia and Defence during the Mackenzie Bowell government and briefly during Charles Tupper's government in 1896. This appointment put him at the heart of federal decision-making during a politically unstable time in Ottawa.
In 1892, Desjardins was appointed to the Canadian Senate, leading to a rare situation where he held a seat in the House of Commons, a Senate appointment, and was also the mayor of Montreal, elected to this role in 1893. He served as mayor until 1894. Holding these three positions at once was a standout aspect of his life and showed the political norms of the time and his personal drive.
Besides his political work, Desjardins was active in commerce. He owned a tile factory and was a co-founder of the Banque Jacques-Cartier, which later became part of the National Bank of Canada. His role in banking aligned him with French-Canadian business leaders focused on building economic institutions for Quebec's francophone community. His business ventures enhanced his political presence and influence.
Desjardins died on June 4, 1912, in his hometown of Terrebonne, at age seventy-one. In 1872, he was made a Knight of the Order of Pius IX for his contributions to the Catholic Church. This honor highlighted the close ties between religious devotion and civic leadership typical of elite French-Canadian society at the time. His career as a lawyer, journalist, businessman, politician, senator, and mayor showed his ongoing public involvement in various aspects of Canadian life.
Before Fame
Alphonse Desjardins was born in Terrebonne, Canada East, in 1841, during a time of major political and social change following the Act of Union of 1840, which had combined Upper and Lower Canada into one province. Growing up during a period when French-Canadian identity, language, and religion were hot topics shaped the views of many who later entered public life. Desjardins studied law, which gave him the skills he needed in argumentation and public affairs throughout his career.
His early work in journalism allowed him to engage with political issues of the day and build a public profile beyond the courtroom. It was common for ambitious French Canadians in the mid-nineteenth century to combine law and journalism to gain influence, and Desjardins took this route successfully. His business ventures, like his tile factory and his role in starting the Banque Jacques-Cartier, showed his entrepreneurial spirit, setting him apart from those focused solely on politics and helping to finance his future goals.
Key Achievements
- Served as mayor of Montreal from 1893 to 1894
- Represented the riding of Hochelaga in the House of Commons for eighteen years
- Appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1892
- Served as Minister of Militia and Defence in the Bowell and Tupper governments in 1896
- Co-founded the Banque Jacques-Cartier, a precursor institution to the National Bank of Canada
Did You Know?
- 01.For a period in the early 1890s, Desjardins simultaneously held three distinct offices: member of the House of Commons, senator, and mayor of Montreal.
- 02.He was awarded the Knight of the Order of Pius IX in 1872, one of the Catholic Church's honors for laypeople who rendered distinguished service to the Church.
- 03.The Banque Jacques-Cartier, which Desjardins helped found, was eventually absorbed into what became the National Bank of Canada, one of the country's major chartered banks.
- 04.His tenure as Minister of Militia and Defence spanned two successive governments in 1896, the Bowell and Tupper administrations, both of which were short-lived and politically turbulent.
- 05.Desjardins was born and died in the same town, Terrebonne, Quebec, bookending a career that took him to the highest levels of Canadian federal and municipal politics.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight of Pius IX | — | — |